Harold Thomas Johnson (Tom) was born in Chicago on April 18, 1938 and died peacefully in the presence of friends and family on July 3, 2024, in Lake Oswego, OR. Complications from heart disease and vascular dementia took his life.
Tom was a brilliant scholar, author of seven books and over 100 articles. The Harvard Business School, the Harvard Business History Review, the Academy of Accounting Historians, the American Society for Quality, and the American Accounting Association honored him for his various achievements. He consulted around the world.
After preparing at Lew Wallace High School in Gary, IN, Tom earned an A.B., majoring in Economics from Harvard College where he was a member of Adams House and the Class of 1960. He earned an MBA from Rutgers University in 1961 and, then, CPA certificates from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Washington State. After becoming a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen & Company in Boston, Tom left accounting to earn a doctorate in economic history at the University of Wisconsin in 1969.
For twenty-five years, until his retirement, Tom served as a Professor of Business Administration at Portland (OR) State University. The first faculty member appointed to PSU's Herbert Retzlaff Endowed Faculty Chair in Quality Management, Tom was especially honored to receive PSU's Branford Price Millar Award for Faculty Excellence.
Tom is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Elaine Johnson; his beloved son, Thomas C. Johnson; sisters Judy Shubert and Carol Pfefferkorn; and brother Robert Johnson. Tom was their North Star, kind, good-natured, generous and wise.
Modified slightly from version published by The Oregonian, August 9 – 11, 2024.
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Honoring the Memory of Emeritus Professor H. Thomas Johnson by Portland (OR) State University’s School of Business, August 12th 2024
Emeritus Professor H. Thomas Johnson passed away on July 3, 2024. His legacy is one of dedication and innovation. He was instrumental in The School of Business’s Total Quality Management phase within The School of Business and was awarded the Branford Price Millar Award for Faculty Excellence in 1995. His seminal book, "Relevance Lost," remains a cornerstone in Management Accounting.
Career
Dr. Johnson spent decades researching and insightfully critiquing modern management and financial accounting. He was a Professor of Business Administration at Portland State University. His career began in accounting before he transitioned into academia, earning a PhD in economic history. He referred to himself as a “recovering accountant.”
A global authority on economic history, management accounting, quality management, and operations management, Dr. Johnson collaborated with numerous major organizations worldwide. His research delved into the intersection of systems thinking, modern physics, and sustainable operations management.
Later in his career, Dr. Johnson taught primarily MBA students at Portland State University. He was highly regarded by his students who praised his ability to link together the “big picture.”
Publications
Dr. Johnson authored seven books and over 100 articles. Among his most significant and well-known works are: Relevance Lost: The Rise and Fall of Management Accounting; Relevance Regained: From Top-Down Control to Bottom-Up Empowerment; and Profit Beyond Measure: Extraordinary Results Through Attention to Work and People.
Recognition and Awards
Dr. Johnson has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including: 2003: Named on Harvard Business Review’s list of 200 leading management thinkers alive today; 2007: Awarded the Deming Medal by the American Society for Quality for distinguished lifetime achievement; 2007: Received the Seminal Contributions to Accounting Literature Award from the American Accounting Association.
As we celebrate his life, we are reminded of the lasting impact he had on all of us at The School of Business. His teachings and passion will continue to inspire future generations.
